Vibratory feeding device



April 29, 1958 s.. B. slMER VIBRATORY FEEDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 26:, 1957' m @J Wm n i v l @mi v A www@ a H SUJ D vrRAToRY FEEDING `DEVICE Samuel B. Simer, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to General Elecj tric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 26, 1957, Serial No. 642,399

4 Claims. (Cl. 19837) iMy invention relates generally to vibratory article feeding devices wherein the larticles are placed in a receptacle or reservoir which is vibrated to cause the articles to be advanced therealong.

YIn one application of such devices, employed in feeding electric lamp filament coils, the coils are placed in a bowlshaped receptacle having a .spiral track or runway on the inside thereof, and the bowl is mounted on springs and is driven by an electromagnet in a manner to cause the bowl to vibrate vertically and in an arc to cause the coils to be advanced upwardly along the track. At its upper end the track narrows to a width such that it will support only a single succession of the coils so that the coils may be received singly in an associated escapement means located at the end of the track. It is desirable that the coils be fed one at a time when the device is operated in synchronism with associated apparatus such as a filament sorting device or with a lamp mount making machine as in Patent 2,764,800, Harwood. The feeding ofthe filament coils is therefore arranged to be intermittent with the electrical driving power to the electromagnet being turned on when a c oil is to be moved forward and shut off as soon as a signalis given that the coil is in place.

In spite of variousprecautions and arrangements which have been devised to assure the feeding of only one coil at. a time, there are occasions when more than one coil CCv -Y may beI had to the following detailed description of species thereof, given by way of example only, and to the drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side feeding device with the device in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryfront elevation of an escapement means associated with the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 -is an end-on view of a portion of the escapement means taken in the direction indicated by the arrows 3-3 in Fig. l; and

elevation of one form of vibratory Figs. 4, 5 and 6 `are modifications of the operating circuit.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, ll have illustrated thereon one form of vibratory feeder which may be employed in the feeding of tungsten filament coils for electric lamps. The device comprises a bowl-shaped receptacle or reservoir 1 having a conical floor 2 from which rises an upwardly inclined spiral track or runway 3'extending around the inside of the bowl.

. the coils 4 to travel from the fioor 2 upwardly along the becomes involved in the mechanism and thereby causes a malfunction. I have observed that such malfunctioning occursV because when the power is shut off the residual energygin the springs supporting the bowl or receptacle causes `the vibrations to continue for a moment at diminishing amplitudes, but sufficient to cause a succeeding coil` to be moved up against the one to be transferred with resulting undesirable interference.

Therefore, in accordance with a primary object of my invention, I have devised an arrangement whereby when the power to drive the vibrator is shut off, other power will be applied which will prevent the free movement of the vibrator by causing an armature on the vibrator receptacle to be drawn against or near to the core ofthe driving electromagnet with such force that the pressure from the supporting springs will have no effect or negligible effect.

The electrical driving power to the electromagnet may be, for example, an alternating current of proper magnitudel or a'half wave rectified current; the holding or stopping, power may be a` direct current, a full wave rectified or continuous pulsating current, or an alternating current of sufficiently high magnitude to perform the holdi,

ing function. The holding power may be appliedto the same electromagnet employed to drive the :device orlto.'

In other words, in one case the a 'separate magnet.

electromagnet is supplied with power ofl a quality and magnitude to cause the receptacle to vibrate, and in the other case it is supplied with power of a different quality and/ormagnitude to cause the receptacle to be attractedf and held firmly against or near to the electromagnet.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference track 3, the bowl 1 is mounted on a plurality of spring members S which are fixed at respective ends to the bowl 1 and to a base 6. As shown, there are four of these v bers is not only to return the bowl 1 upwardly after, being lowered, but also to exert a torque to move thecoils 4 counterclockwise along the track 3.

To pull the bowl 1 downward against the spring ten-l sion and thereby, with the action of the spring members,

impart a vibration to the bowl, an electromagnet comprising a core 7 and a coil 8 is mounted on the base 6 inv close proximity to an armature 9 fixed to the bottom of the bowl 1. The electromagnet is energized in the present case by a 60 cycle voltage from a suitable source of alternating current by way'of a half wave `rectifier 10. It will be evident that each time the bowl 1 is pulled down by the magnet 7, 8 the angularity of the springs 5 will cause it.to move simultaneously clockwise as viewed from the top. The restoring Inovement will be upward and counterclockwise to cause the; coils 4 to travel upward along the track 3 each time this motion occurs,

The upper end of the track 3 at the top of the bowl 1 is` preferably channel shaped and'of such narrow width that it Will accommodate only a single succession of coils 4.l Adjacent the terminus of the track 3 there is located an j escapement means indicated generally by the numeral 12 and supported from the base 6. As a coil reaches the end of the track 3, it is blown by an air jet 13 to separate i it quickly from the coil next in line. into a tube or conduit 14 and into The coil is blown a channel 15 formed by a V-shaped slot in the body or slide block member 20 of insulating material and an inverted V-shaped slot in the' l of insulatin'g'mate'rial. The '1 channel 15 terminates in a V-shaped chute portion formedl by separate metallic side portions 16, 16 which are electrically insulated from each other and separated by an'- bottom of a cover piece 20' insulating piece 16. The coil comes to rest on the chute the end thereof. The coil 4 is 18. ,in a bracket 19 plied through a conduit member 20 and through a passage 22 to blow'the coil 4 from the. chute members 16 associated mechanisnn,

` When there. is no `coil in the escapement means l2, the

Patented Apr. 29, 1958 a circuit diagram for operation of ln order to cause downward and into a receptacle on the feeder bowl 1 is vibrated by the liow of current through the electromagnet coil 8. Alternating current is supplied through conductors 25 and 26 and flows by way of conductor 26, relay contact 27, conductor 28, rheostat 29, half wave rectifier 10, conductor 30, coil 8, conductor 31, relay contact 32 and conductor 25. The conductors 25, 26 may be supplied with a 60 cycle voltage, and the rectifier 10 serves to eliminate alternate half waves, thus giving a'strong magnetic field 60 times per second with intermediate intervals whenthe field is negligible. The resulting vibrating force is greater than it would be without the rectifier.

When a coil 4 reaches the end of the track 3, it is blown by the air jet 13 into t'ne escapement means 12 where it cornes to rest on the chute members 16, 16 against the gate 17. The presence of the electrically conductive coil 4 in the chute causes the sections 16 of the chute to be bridged, and thereby energizes the relay coil 33 by way of conductors 34 and 35 which are connected across conductors 25 and 26. The energizing of coil 33 causes its contacts 2.7 and 32 to break the connections to conductors 28 and 31 thereby terminating energization of the electromagnet coil 8 through the rectifier 10. At the same time, the contacts 27 and 32 make connection to conductors 36 and 37, respectively, to thereby energize the electromagnet coil 8 with a holding current by way of a full wave rectifier 38 through a rheostat 39. The rectified current owing through coil 8 causes the core 7 to attract the armature 9 with sufficient force to prevent continued vibration of the bowll by the springs 5. The bowl is thus immediately stopped from vibrating to thereby prevent feeding of another coil 4 into the escapement means 12. Upon opening of the gate 17 and release of the coil 4 from the chute members 16, 16, tne relay coil 33 'is de-energized and its contacts 27 and 32 restore the connection of conductors 28 and 31 with conductors 26 and 25 to again cause the bowl 1 to be vibrated to feed another coil into the escapement device 12.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have illustrated alternative circuits for supplying holding current to the electromagnet, the same numerals being used for parts corresponding to those in Fig. 1.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, as in Fig. l, the driving or vibrating power is supplied from the conductors 25 and 26 to the electromagnet coil 8 through the half wave rectifier and rheostat 29 by way of a relay contact 40. When the chute sections 16, 16 are bridged by a filament coil 4, the relay coil 41 is energized to actuate the contact 4. and close the circuit to conductor 42 to thereby connect the ele-ctromagnet coil 8 through rheostat 43 across the alternating current supply lines 25 and 26. The alternating current thus supplied to coil 8 is chosen to be of sufficient magnitude to cause its core 7 to attract and hold the armature 9 of bowl 1 (Fig. l) against free vibration.

The characteristics of some vibratory devices maybe such as to make it desirable to employ direct current for the holding function. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 5 where separate sources of alternating current and direct current are employed for the respective driving and holding functions. The driving current to electromagnet coil 8 is derived from the alternating current supply lines 25 and 26 through relay contacts 44 and 45, conductors 31 and 28, rheostat 29 and half wave rectifier 1l). Upon bridging of the chute sections 16, 16 by a filament coil, the relay coil 46 is energized to disconnect its contacts 44 'and 45 from the conductors 31 and 28 and, at the .same

time, the relay contacts 47 and 48 are actuated to connect the electromagnet .coil 8 vacross direct current supply conductors 49 and 50 by way of conductor 51, rheostat 52 and conductor 53.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, the holding function is supplied by direct kcurrent derived from a capacitor. The vibrating power is supplied from the alternating current line conductors 25 and 26 toelectromagnet coil 8 by way of relay contacts 54 and 55, half wave rectifier 10vand rheostat 29. Upon bridging of the chute sections 16, 16 by a filament coil, the relay coil 56 is energized to actuate its contacts 54 and 55 and connect the electromagnet coil 8 across a capacitor 57 by way of conductors 5a and 59 and conductor 60, rheostat 61 and conductors 62 and 63. The capacitor is charged by a full wave rectifier 64 through a rheostat 65, the rectifier 64 being con nected across the line conductors 25 and 26.

When the device -is being vibrated, the capacitor 57 is charged to its maximum voltage. the relay contacts 54 and 55 to connect the electromagnet coil 8 with the holding power supply, the current discharged from the capacitor 57 supplies a strong initial pull to hold the armature 9 and bowl 1 (Fig. 1). As the charge is dissipated, there is a voltage established on the capacitor where the input is equal to the output; it is sufiicient to hold the armature and bowl. By this time the armature and bowl will have been pulled down as far as possible and if there is contact with the electromagnet core 7 it may be held there by the lower voltage. Ifthe adjustment is such that the armature 9 does not contact the core 7, it may be pulled to the maximum distance when the highest voltage is supplied to the coil 8 and then will be allowed to gradually move back without oscillation as the charge wattage is lowered.

In the arrangements shown in Figs. 5 and 6, no parallel circuit is placed across the electromagnet coil 8 between it and the relay contacts. In Fig. l, the full wave rectifier 38 remains across the coil 8 when it is being energized with half wave power. However, when the full wave rectifier 38 is properly connected, there is a bucking action and only a slight amount of current from the half wave rectifier 10 wil-l pass through it.

It will be evident that various other combinations .and arrangements may be employed within the spirit and scope of the invention, including various arrangements of the vibratory feeding device and its spring and magnet assemblies, as well as Variations in the circuit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vibratory article fee-ding device, the combination of a receptacle having an armature fixed thereto, a base, spring means supporting said receptacle from said base, means to supply to said armature electromagnetic impulses of a nature to effect vibration of said receptacle, means to supply to said armature electromagnetic flux-of a nature to attract and hold said receptacle stationary against the action :of said spring means, and means actuated by feeding of an article from said receptacle and operable to switch ol the supply of electromagnetilcimpulses effecting vibration of the receptacle and to simultaneously switch on the supply of electromagnetic ux effecting attraction and holding of the receptacle whereby to effect substantially instantaneous cessation of vibration of the receptacle.

2. In a vibratory article feeding device, the combination of a receptacle having an armature fixed thereto, a base,

spring means supporting said receptacle yfrom said base,-

ele-ctromagnet means mounted on said base in juxtaposition to said receptacle and adapted to supply magnetic impulses to said armature for effecting vibratory motion of the receptacle, escapement means mounted adjacent said receptacle and arranged to receive articles singly therefrom;

means to supply electrical driving power to said electromagnet :of a quality and magnitude to effect vibration of said receptacle, and means to supply to said electromagnet an electrical holding power different from said `driving power and of a quality and magnitude to attract and hold said receptacle stationary against the action of said spring means, and means operable upon entry of an article into said escapement means to switch off said driving power and simultaneously` switch on said holding power Upon actuation of to the electromagnet means whereby to effect substantially instantaneous cessation of vibration of said receptacle.

3. In a vibratory article feeding device, the combination Iof a receptacle having an armature fixed thereto, a base, spring means supporting said receptacle from said base, electromagnet means mounted on said base in juxtaposition to said receptacle and adapted to supply magnetic impulses to said armature for effecting vbratory motion of the receptacle, escapement means mounted adjacent said receptacle and arranged to receive articles singly therefrom, means ot supply a half wave rectified alternating current driving power to said electromagnet to effect vibration of said receptacle, and means to supply tull wave rectified alternating current holding power to said electromagnet to attract and hold said receptacle stationary against the action of said spring means, and means operable upon entry of an article into said escapement means to switch off said driving power and simultaneously switch on said holding power to the electromagnet means thereby to eect substantially instantaneous cessation of vibration of said receptacle.

4. In a vibratory article feeding device, the combination of a receptacle having an armature fixed thereto, a base, spring means supporting said receptacle from said base, electromagnet means mounted on said base in juxtaposition to said receptacle and adapted to supply magnetic impulses to said armature for eifecting vibratory motion of the receptacle, escapement means mounted adjacent said receptacle and arranged to receive articles singly therefrom, means to supply a half wave rectified alternating current driving power to said electromagnet to effect vibration of said receptacle, and means to supply direct current holding power to said electromagnet to attract and hold said receptacle stationary against the action of said spring means, and means operable upon entry of an article into said escapement means to switch off said driving power and simultaneously switch on said holding power to the clectromagnet means thereby to eiiect substantially instantaneous cessation of vibration of said receptacle.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,950 Rubin Aug. 9, 1955 

